Thomas was born on September 3rd 1868, the youngest child of William and Harriet Howell. He was baptised at Waiwera by the Rev E.R. Otway on 18th June 1871, with sponsors named as George and Catherine Sewell.
When he married Rebecca (Rae) Marshall at Woodville in 1906, he was described as a labourer, residing at Woodville. However the marriage was short-lived. Thomas returned to Upper Waiwera, presumably because he was ill with consumption, he was said to have slept in a tent. This may have been an attempt to improve his health - fresh air ...
Thomas died of consumption in Upper Waiwera in 1908, leaving Rae with their young son William. Thomas was buried and was buried there in the family plot in Silverdale (Wade) Cemetery.
The notebook of Henry Bartlett, builder in Wainui area 1890s and early 1900s, notes on 21 March 1908: "To making coffin for Mr T. Howell 11s"; 22 Mar "Funeral of above".
Thomas's burial inscription at the Silverdale Cemetery is "died 22 March 1908, aged 32". This conflicts with the age on his death certificate (37).